Taking the next step

Transitioning players through the different grades is a crucial part of growing the Subiaco football club.

Last weekend two Colts players Christopher Bryan and Ryan Vermeersch made the plunge into senior football after being selected to play against West Perth.

The 18 year olds were thrust into an already youthful Reserves side who sit on top of the ladder after Round 9.

With seven other players featured from last years Colts side with an average age of 20.43 the table topping reserves side is a good testament to how our youngsters are being developed.

Colts coach Steve Armstrong believes this transition process lies with the training programs in place at Subiaco.

“It’s important for the younger players moving up to get accustomed to training with the seniors and Jarrad Schofield. Guys like Josh Deluca, Chris Bryan, Hayden Kennedy and Ryan Vermeersch had a taste of senior training over summer and have been apart of every main session to get familiar with the standard required.”

“I’ve been impressed with how the boys this year have bridged the gap and competed at a higher level. Your always going to have that core group of Colts players who are likely to play senior football at some point so it’s important to keep them motivated to get to the highest level possible and then it’s up to them to lift to the occasion..”

With only nine rounds of football played there are still Colts footballers who have shown the maturity to play at the next level this year.

“We try to transition the more mature Colts into training with the seniors so there could be more stepping up to the next level this year. It always depends on how healthy our senior list is so if there are a few injuries it’s a good opportunity for our younger players to step up.”

Christopher Bryan was impressive in his first seniors game collecting 12 disposals and being named in the best column for the Lions reserves.

Key position player Ryan Vermeersch also got his first taste of the big sticks in senior football kicking his first major in the second.